SIPTU threaten boycott of system gauging interest in decentralisation

STATE agency workers represented by SIPTU may boycott Government plans to set up an online applications system for civil servants willing to decentralise.

The central recommendation of the Government’s decentralisation implementation group report, issued last week, was that a Central Applications Facility (CAF) be established to gauge how many public servants are actually willing to relocate.

The CAF - which the Government says will be the first true indicator of interest in decentralisation - is to be up and running by the end of next month.

A comprehensive indication of numbers willing to relocate and their preferred locations is then expected to be finalised by July.

However, SIPTU members, angered that the CAF does not allow staff to indicate a preference for remaining in Dublin, are threatening to boycott the system altogether.

According to SIPTU, up to 95% of public servants in State agencies, such as Enterprise Ireland, do not want to leave the capital.

About 2,500 workers in State agencies are to be relocated from Dublin over the next three years as part of the overall plan to move 10,000 public service staff. SIPTU says it represents over 1,500 of the State agency workers concerned.

SIPTU state and related agencies branch secretary Owen Reidy said there was a mounting frustration and anger among union members. “A boycott is one of number of things we are going to have to explore.

“Our concern is that in the course of two meetings with the Department of Finance nothing has been taken on board. We are struggling to see why we should remain involved when this just seems to be a premeditated outcome,” he said.